Asia Daily: December 3, 2024
President Yoon Suk Yeol declares end to martial law after six-hour chaos. President Yoon Suk Yeol announced the lifting of martial law early Wednesday following a unanimous rejection by the National Assembly, marking the end of a short-lived and contentious decision. Martial law, declared Tuesday evening and effective at 11 p.m., imposed strict restrictions on assembly, publication, and political activities but was met with fierce opposition from lawmakers, including members of Yoon's ruling People Power Party. Yoon, citing a "determined will to save the nation," justified the declaration as a response to alleged misconduct by opposition lawmakers, whom he described as "pro-North Korean, anti-state forces." The military, reportedly deployed to dissolve parliament and arrest opposition figures, was withdrawn before Yoon’s address at 4:20 a.m., where he pledged to convene a Cabinet meeting to formally rescind martial law. Under the Constitution, the president must comply with the Assembly's demands to lift such measures. Son Ji-hyoung, The Korea Herald, December 4
Phumtham downplays MP's House dissolution warning. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai dismissed remarks by Pheu Thai MP Cherdchai Tantisirin suggesting that disagreements over a charter referendum could lead to a House dissolution, emphasizing that such decisions rest solely with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The dispute stems from differing views between the Senate, which supports a double-majority requirement for the referendum, and the House, which advocates a simple majority. A joint MP-Senate committee recently upheld the Senate's stance, with coalition partner Bhumjaithai backing the double majority. The People's Party distanced itself from the issue, continuing its push for charter amendments and readiness for elections if dissolution occurs. Aekarach Sattaburuth, Bangkok Post, December 4.
Vietnamese NA Chairman concludes official visit to Singapore. National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn concluded a three-day official visit to Singapore on December 3, holding high-level meetings with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng. Leaders from both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the Việt Nam-Singapore Strategic Partnership by enhancing economic collaboration in areas such as green logistics, semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy, and green finance. They also emphasized strengthening legislative cooperation through agreements, institutional reform exchanges, and collaboration between parliamentary committees. Chairman Mẫn called for policies supporting Vietnamese businesses and citizens in Singapore and met with major investors and the Vietnamese community. The visit strengthened parliamentary ties and advanced bilateral cooperation across various sectors. Vietnam News, December 4
Kazakh Agricultural Producers Sign $1 Billion in Deals with China. Kazakhstan secured $1 billion in agricultural export agreements with China on November 30, including a $100 million contract for poultry products. The agreements focus on expanding exports of grain, oilseeds, and vegetable oil, with grain exports to China increasing 5.5-fold in 2023 to 1.4 million tons. Both nations aim to raise grain exports to 2 million tons soon. Kazakhstan is encouraging Chinese investment in its agro-industrial sector, particularly in organic products and high-quality livestock goods like beef, lamb, dairy, and honey. The country’s agricultural exports, which doubled to $5.4 billion in five years, are projected to reach $10 billion within five years. Sergey Kwan, The Times of Central Asia, December 4.
Philippines, China trade accusations over confrontation in South China Sea. The Philippines and China exchanged accusations over a maritime confrontation near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. China’s Coast Guard claimed Philippine ships attempted to enter its territorial waters, prompting "law enforcement" actions. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard alleged Chinese vessels took "aggressive actions," including firing water cannons and executing dangerous maneuvers against a routine patrol. This clash follows rising tensions, including a November diplomatic dispute over China's baseline territorial claims around the shoal. Beijing continues to assert sweeping claims over the South China Sea, rejecting a 2016 international tribunal ruling that invalidates its claims. Reuters, December 4.
19-year manhunt for S’porean tycoon involved in $72 million embezzlement case ends in JB. Ng Teck Lee, a former CEO of Citiraya Industries, and his wife, Thor Chwee Hwa, were arrested in Malaysia on December 3 after evading authorities for 19 years over an embezzlement scheme involving $72 million. Ng allegedly misappropriated electronic scrap intended for recycling by redirecting it to syndicates in Taiwan and Hong Kong, selling it as new products, and paying nearly $2 million in bribes. The scam, uncovered in 2004, implicated 12 others who received prison sentences. Ng fled Singapore in 2005 as investigations began, prompting an Interpol Red Notice and an extensive search. His assets, valued at $23 million, were seized in 2011, marking the largest confiscation by CPIB. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) handed the fugitives over to Singapore’s CPIB, where they face charges of criminal breach of trust and corruption. Andrew Wong, The Straits Times, December 4
Floods wreak havoc in Malaysia, southern Thailand with over 30 killed, tens of thousands displaced. Monsoon rains triggered devastating floods in Malaysia and southern Thailand, leaving over 30 dead and tens of thousands displaced. Malaysia’s Kelantan and Terengganu states were hardest hit, with damages estimated at 1 billion ringgit ($224 million), including submerged rice fields, destroyed infrastructure, and ruined homes. Approximately 85,000 people remain in shelters as the government braces for another monsoon surge. In Thailand, floods claimed 25 lives, affected over 300,000 households, and closed schools and health facilities. Both countries are deploying evacuation measures and aid as officials warn of more heavy rains. Syawalludin Zain and Jintamas Saksornchai, AP News, December 4
Vietnam court may commute tycoon’s death sentences if she repays $11 billion. Vietnamese tycoon Truong My Lan, convicted of defrauding $12.5 billion in the country's largest financial crime, had her death sentence upheld by a higher court but could see it commuted to life imprisonment if she repays $11 billion, representing three-fourths of the defrauded amount. As chairperson of Van Thinh Phat real estate firm, Lan illegally controlled Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank, orchestrating fraudulent loans that caused $27 billion in losses. Her crimes included bribery, embezzlement, and issuing illegal bonds, further eroding trust in Vietnam's financial sector. While her lawyers argued she has repaid part of the amount, legal disputes over seized properties persist. Her arrest is among the highest-profile in Vietnam's intensified anti-corruption campaign, and her actions are cited as having negatively impacted banking and public trust. Aniruddha Ghosal, AP News, December 4.
13 women convicted in Cambodia of acting as pregnancy surrogates for foreigners. Thirteen Filipino women were sentenced to four years in prison by Cambodia’s Kandal Provincial Court for participating in a human trafficking ring that sold babies to foreigners. The court suspended two years of their sentences, which they will not serve unless convicted of further crimes. The women, some of whom are still pregnant, were arrested in September during a raid on a villa that uncovered a surrogacy operation involving 20 Filipinos and four Vietnamese. Cambodian authorities accused the women of conspiring with organizers to act as surrogates in exchange for money rather than treating them as victims. The surrogacy business, based in Thailand, provided food and accommodation for the women in Cambodia. Commercial surrogacy has been banned in Cambodia since 2016 following its rise as a low-cost destination for foreigners seeking surrogates. Sopheng Cheang, AP News, December 4
Thailand’s prime minister expects fishermen seized by Myanmar to be repatriated soon. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed that four Thai fishermen detained by Myanmar’s navy for trespassing in its waters remain safe and expressed confidence in their impending release. The detentions followed an incident where Myanmar’s navy opened fire on Thai fishing vessels near the maritime border in the Andaman Sea, resulting in one death and two injuries among Thai crew members. Myanmar’s military government stated that the Thai trawler, with 31 crew members—four Thais and 27 Myanmar nationals—had entered its waters. While Thailand’s navy acknowledged the boats were in Myanmar’s territory, it questioned the navy's use of excessive force. Relations between the two governments remain cooperative despite Myanmar's international isolation over human rights concerns. AP News, December 4
China bans exports to US of gallium, germanium, antimony in response to chip sanctions. China has imposed a ban on the export of critical high-tech materials, including gallium, germanium, and antimony, to the United States, escalating tensions following U.S. restrictions on semiconductor-related exports. These materials, vital for producing computer chips, solar panels, military technology, and other applications, are largely sourced from China. The move follows Washington’s expansion of export controls targeting 140 Chinese companies involved in advanced chip production. Chinese officials criticized the U.S. for abusing national security measures to suppress China’s technological advancement. The restrictions are expected to disrupt global supply chains and drive up costs, as China is the dominant producer of these materials, which are critical for various industries. Elaine Kurtenbach, AP News, December 4
Japan dispatches military assets after spotting Russian submarine near Taiwan. Japan deployed a surveillance plane and navy ship on Tuesday after a Russian Kilo-class submarine was detected 50 kilometers south of Yonaguni Island, near Taiwan. Accompanied by a Russian naval ship, the submarine moved northeast between Yonaguni and Iriomote islands without breaching Japan’s territorial waters. The deployment shows Japan's concerns over increasing military activities by both China and Russia near its southwestern waters. Japan has been strengthening defenses in this region, critical to its security strategy, amid recent Chinese naval movements and joint Sino-Russian military operations. Mari Yamaguchi, AP News, December 4
What Just Happened in South Korea? On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law, citing budget gridlock, impeachment of government officials, and threats to the constitutional order. The decree imposed sweeping restrictions on political parties, public demonstrations, labor organizing, and placed media under military control. In an emergency late-night session, all 190 present members of the 300-seat National Assembly voted to block the decree, compelling the president to end martial law. This incident reflects deep political turmoil within Yoon's administration, marked by low approval ratings and internal party rivalries. The swift rejection of martial law demonstrates South Korea's commitment to democratic institutions, a departure from its past era of military dictatorship. Darcie Draudt-Véjares, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, December 3
Indonesia must play the long game to transform its lagging labour force. Indonesia faces challenges in human capital development, ranking low on global and regional productivity metrics, with a labor force dominated by low-skilled, informal jobs. President Prabowo Subianto plans a Rp 400 trillion investment in school nutrition programs but must also address systemic issues by boosting middle-class job creation and reindustrialization. Indonesia's premature deindustrialization post-1997 shifted the economy from manufacturing to natural resources and low-end services, stalling productivity. Labour migration policies focus on sending low-skilled workers abroad, often in exploitative conditions, while highly educated emigrants remain underrepresented compared to China and India. To catch up, Indonesia must improve domestic job quality, reallocate informal employment, and strategically promote high-skilled labor migration to strengthen industrial sectors. Incorporating skills training into vocational education, especially in fields like semiconductors, could align labor policies with broader industrial goals. Neta Cynara Anggina, East Asia Forum, December 4
Trump puts Taiwan on the tightrope. Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential victory ushers in a challenging phase for Taiwan as escalating US-China tensions heighten its strategic importance. With Trump’s transactional foreign policy, Taiwan faces increased pressure to boost defence spending and purchase advanced US military systems, deepening its financial commitments to secure US support. Meanwhile, Trump's economic policies, including potential tariffs on Chinese goods and criticism of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, could strain Taiwan’s export-driven economy and compel a delicate balancing act between US and Chinese interests. Taiwan must proactively diversify trade partnerships, strengthen economic resilience, and maintain robust defence capabilities to address the dynamics of the US-China-Taiwan triangle under Trump’s leadership. Haruka Satake, East Asia Forum, December 3
Governing From Weakness: The LDP Under Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru leads a minority coalition government with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner, Komeito, following electoral setbacks. His cabinet's approval rating stands at 40%, reflecting domestic challenges. Internationally, Ishiba faces heightened volatility, including ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, the impending return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, and escalating military pressures from China and North Korea. These factors complicate Japan's foreign policy and strategic planning under Ishiba's leadership. Sheila A. Smith, The Diplomat, December 1
How a Provincial Election in Udon Thani Became a National Battleground. The November 24, 2024, election for the Udon Thani Provincial Administrative Organisation turned into a national political stage as former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra campaigned for Pheu Thai (PT) candidate Sarawut Phetpanomporn, marking his first public appearance in 18 years. Thaksin used the election to reignite PT’s base and counter the Progressive Movement, the successor to the dissolved Move Forward Party. Sarawut’s victory reinforced PT’s local influence, while Thaksin emphasized the importance of aligning provincial leadership with PT’s national goals. The election highlights how local contests are increasingly intertwined with national political strategies. Napon Jatusripitak, Fulcrum, December 3